Preamble
KATI is committed to providing culturally sensitive and responsive art therapy education and services. KATI fosters an environment that respects people's dignity, ideas and beliefs, thereby ensuring equity and diversity in education, therapy, employment and initiatives.
The Institute acknowledges that racism and oppression does exist and takes responsibility for learning, education and change. All Board members, faculty, staff, students, and volunteers adhere to principles founded in a feminist perspective of equality and address issues of oppression in terms of racism, sexism, heterosexism, disability, poverty, religion and classism.
Policy
The Institute takes a pro-active organizational stance against oppression and this commitment is reflected internally and externally. All KATI Board, faculty, staff, students and volunteers must demonstrate sensitivity to religious and cultural practices and promote an understanding of anti-racism, and employment equity.
KATI does not tolerate prejudice, racism, discrimination or harassment of any kind on a systemic or personal level. Within KATI's scope we are committed to confronting and eliminating racism and other forms of discrimination.
The main objectives of this policy are:
- to eliminate barriers in the school program, art therapy services and workplace, and
- to establish a framework that encourages the spirit of equity and diversity in all aspects. The commitment to the policy is reflected in the following practices and procedures.
Cultural competency and anti-racism training are provided for students, staff and volunteers (includes KATI Board members) in the form of courses, workshops and seminars. All students are required to take compulsory courses on ethics and cultural identity and diversity.
Art therapy research and researchers must rise to the challenge of recognizing and integrating diversity considerations into their ongoing work and thesis projects.
KATI subscribes to the British Columbia Human Rights Code. The BC Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination on any or all of the following grounds: race, gender, ancestry, place of origin, color, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex (includes pregnancy), sexual orientation, ability, age, marital status (including common-law, divorced, and separated) and family status.
Procedure
Students, staff and guests are encouraged to address racism early and directly in a respectful manner.
- The student, staff or guest who experiences harm or witnesses harm being caused to another person in the KATI community is encouraged to follow the guidelines outlined in the KATI Care Team and Guidelines for 'Calling-in" Micro-aggressions
- When the guidelines for "calling-in" fail, or they are not appropriate given the nature of the behavior; students, staff and guests can bring concerns to the Executive Director and Academic Director.
- If the complaint is not resolved by (2) above, a complaint via a written submission should be made to the Executive Director and Academic Director and the Chairperson of the HR Committee of the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute Association Board.
- The Chairperson of the HR Committee will seek further clarification (written or verbal). The process of gathering information may function as a mediation. The Chairperson has the option of asking for support/advice/representation during any part of the process or appointing another or additional committee member. It is important that this person should not be an employee, graduate or faculty member of the Institute.
- The Chairperson of the HR Committee will provide the Student/Staff/Guest/Executive Director and Academic Director with a written decision, including conclusions and recommendations. The delivery of this decision should not exceed 30 days from the initial complaint.
- If it becomes impossible for the Chairperson of the HR Committee to facilitate and recommend a consensual agreement that is both workable and can be respected by all parties, then an external Mediator will be engaged by the KATIA Board. The Institute will pay for a maximum two-hour mediation session with all parties involved, the outcome of which will be binding for all parties.
- Written reasons for the determination will be provided to the student within 30 days after the date on which the complaint was made. The student making the complaint may be represented by an agent or a lawyer.
Relevant Documents